As with other successful fantasy series, the best example being Forgotten Realms, Dragonlance has strong ties to Dungeons and Dragons. The original novels were written to tie into several D&D Campaign modules, after all. In fact, in the original Dragonlance D&D modules players would choose one of the characters from the novels to play, as opposed to creating their own.

Eventually, Dragonlance stopped being made into gaming modules. The novels continued to be written, however, and the world expanded. New characters, ages, and storylines continue to be introduced. That sense of inclusion though, the one that draws a person into table top role playing games, continues in the novels. At the moment, you can find Dragonlance source books in the Advanced Dungeons and Dragons edition, and the 3.5 edition, although Dragonlance characters often make appearances in other D&D editions (the most recent edition is 5th). I am hopeful that Dragonlance will play a larger role in any new D&D editions. That would be amazing

If you have never played Dungeons and Dragons, I suggest you give it a go. It gets a bum rap, I’m assuming because it involves “playing pretend”, but who says we have to stop using our imaginations once we become adults? Readers use our imaginations every time we open a book.

I was fortunate to join Behind the Pages, Fantasy Book Nerd, and Sue Bavey on a Dragonlance Advanced Dungeons and Dragons gaming session, run by author and Youtuber Rob Edwards. Check it out below (and please ignore the fact that I am a singularly unconvincing Tanis).

Let’s Play Dragonlance: First Edition AD&D Gameplay